Recently I was asked to give an example of a loss of innocence in my personal life. As I reflected on what to share, I couldn’t help but think of all the different times in my life that chipped away at my childhood. There was one episode that stuck out above the others. I was ...

Goldfinches and sparrows flit from branch to branch, filling the air with melodic choruses. Daylight warms Jayla’s face and rouses her from a deep sleep. She reaches for her plush blanket but collects something brittle and moist. Startled, Jayla opens her eyes and blinks to clear them. Clasped inside the palms of her hands are ...

My husband and I took a week-long trip to Washington, DC, in early July. It felt so surreal to visit The White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It is incredible how much history each place has.  Visiting the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial was the most impactful part of the ...

The early summer rainstorm ceased. But, dark clouds remained and hovered above the sparsely populated street. Rainwater trickled into the storm drain below and lured the brown, slimy creature to the surface. Overcast skies and rain-drenched surface created the perfect environment for the underground creature. Conditions were ideal for it to go in search of ...

Whether you’re a serious writer or an occasional writer, a writing prompt can help you to turn a blank piece of paper into a completed, creative story. Prompts give you something specific to focus on and often gets the wheels turning. They can also trigger a particular memory or exciting event, which can work its ...

Emily and Dean hiked deep inside The Fallen Forest to reach an area rumored to be a hotspot for unusual activity. A local had drawn a map for their use, but the elderly gentleman also issued a warning for them to stay away. Dean chose to ignore the gray-haired man and made his way far ...

Maddie, a horror novelist, wakes and rolls to her side. She burrows under the purple, quilted comforter, not yet ready to begin her day — a floorboard creaks. The sound of deep, raspy breathing inside her bedroom startles her. Maddie’s eyes fly open, and her stomach sinks as she catches sight of a man at ...

Daylight fades, and Caleb stares at the vacant, decrepit house. Dirt-coated snow runs along the front of the old, yellow building, and filth coats the entire structure. The rickety porch threatens to collapse, and the sight of it causes Caleb to let out a sharp breath. The fourteen-year-old regrets his choice for completing a dare ...

Debbie haphazardly parked her SUV in the middle of the curvy canyon road. She jumped out and sprinted toward the edge of the ravine. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest as she caught sight of her son’s crashed motorcycle. She peered twenty feet downward and scanned the rocky depths for her son, Jake. ...

Is it wrong to be selfish? At an early age, it is taught to be selfish is wrong. Religions have taught selfishness is a sin and praise acts of selflessness. One of my earliest memories of childhood is bonding over a toy in the third grade with a girl named Rebecca. This taught me the act ...